Distributer for grain-drills.



No. 69|,483. Patented Ian. 2|, I902.

C. E. PATRIC. DISTRIBUTER FOB GRAIN DRILLS.

(Application filed May 8, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES No. 69I,483. I Patented Jan. 2!, I902.

c. E. PATBIC.

DISTRIBUTER FOR GRAIN DRILLS.

(Application filed May 6, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No. 69!,483. Patented Ian. 2|, 1902.

; c. .E. PATRIC.

DISTRIBUTER FOR GRAIN DRILLS.

(Application filed m 6.;1901.)

I 3 Sheets$heet 3.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES OZ M3 MM W WM UNITED STATES Y PATENT ()FFICEQ CHARLES E.PATRIO, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE SUPERIOR DRILL COMPANY, OFSPRINGFIELD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

DISTRIBUTER FOR GRAIN-DRILLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 691 ,483, dated January 21, 1902.

Application filed May 6, 1901. Serial No. 58,891. (No model.) i

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. PATRIO, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residin g at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State ofOhio,

have invented certain new and useful Improvement-s in Distributors forGrain-Drills, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvementsin devices for sowing ordistributing seed from to the hoppers to the grain-conduits orfurrowopeners of seeding-machines.

The seed cups or distributers which have heretofore been employed inthat class of seeding machinery known as drills maybe divided into twogeneral classesto Wit, those which have variable throats or openingsthrough which the seed passes or is carried in order to distribute orsow the required quantity, and, second, those in which an orifice offixed size is employed in connection with a movable carrying device towhich a variable speed may be applied to vary the quantity of graindistributed or sown.

Inasmuch as in modern seeding the quantity of seed to be distributedover a given territory (in some cases as low as a quart to the acre)must be measured accurately, it follows that the measuring devices ofdistributers must be so constructed as to distribute the 0 seeduniformly and accurately, and it 'has been found, therefore, that thosein which a fixed measuring-orifice is employed with a variable-speeddevice have been the most satisfactory. These devices are also requiredto sow seed of varying sizes and of various conditions, and it has beenmy purpose to invent a device which is adapted to sow the small seed aswell as the larger sizes without clogging and to sow them uniformly and0' evenly. I overcome these difficulties in a large measure by theconstructions herein described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of aportion of the hopper embodying my device. Fig. 2 is a rear view. Fig. 3is a detail of the guiding-plate. Figs.

4 and 5 illustrate the halves of the housing. Fig. 6 is a section of thedevice, taken on the line w a: of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of thearrows. Figs. 7 and 8 show opposite sides of the distributing-Wheel.Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the hose connection. Fig. 10 is a sideelevation of the device, partly broken away. Fig. 11 is a sectionthrough the measuring-channel. Fig. 12 is a rear View, and Fig. 13 is aside elevation, of a portion of my device.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in theseveral views.

In constructing my device I employ the outer casing a,'having theannular chamber a and the housing at extending therefrom. Said casing ismade in halves joined together with the interlocking male and femalejoint a and is mounted in the hopper b, and on a recess a of aninwardly-projecting arm a carries a distributing-wheel c, said wheelhaving a central web 0 with a trunnion c extending from one side thereofjournaled in said recess. Said wheel is further formed with a flange 0having on its outer surface the ordinary cogs of a spur-gear and uponits inner periphery, on each side of the web 0, the ribs 0 to carry thegrain. The housing a projects at a over a portion of the flange c andforms with said flange a measuring-channel c on each side of said wheel.The distributing-wheel c is driven by the pinion d, mounted upon theshaft (1, which is journaled in the casing at d and extends under thehopper. This shaft d is driven from the axle of the machine through theshaft (2 and the gears 61* and d and is given different speeds throughthe medium of the gears (Z formed in a well-known manner.

The hose connection e, formed with the perforated care and the slottedear e having the spring-pressed latch 6 is attached to the lugs a of theconduit 0. of the housing by slipping the ear (2' over one of said lugsand c the ear e with the spring-pressed latch 6 over the other, saidlatch holding itin place.

The distributing-wheel, with its carrying flange, is driven in theannular chamber of the casing in the direction of the arrow shown 5 inFig. 4, and the grain, contacting with the side of said wheel andcarrying-flange, is carried up by the ribs of said flange through themeasuring-channel and discharged into the housing, when it drops throughits conduit 10) and hose connection.

It being desirable to arrange that both coarse and fine grain may besown by the same machine, I provide for this by making thedistributing-wheel on one side of its web deeper and the opening throughthe measuring-channel larger than upon the other side. The removableguiding plates or shields f, formed at one end with the shoulders fresting on the top of the casing CL and at the other end on the flange aof the casing next adjacent, feeds the grain to either side of thedistributing-wheel, as may be desired, the solid lines of Fig. 2 showingthem placed for feeding thegrain to-one side and the dotted lines to theother side of the wheel.

The pinions d are slidingly mounted upon the shaft d by a feather orkey, and the spring g, attached to the flange a of the casing, bearsagainst the pinion to hold it in place, said spring being adapted to bemoved out of position, so that said pinion may be moved outof engagementwith the distributing-wheel. It will be seen that the arrangement issuch that any one or more of the distributing devices may be thrown outof engagement and become inoperative.

It will be seen that by driving the distributing-wheel from itsperiphery I am enabled to place the driving-shaft outside of and thewheel and its casing within the hopper, so that each side of the web ofthe wheel, with its carrying-flange, is fully open to the grain in thehopper except where it passes through the housing, so that the grain isin contact with and agitated by the wheel and will not bridge over inthe hopper. This construction also avoids the contracted openings of thecasing below the hopper that necessarily follow where thedistributing-wheel is below or only partially extends up into thehopper. Furthermore it will be noted that the measuringchannel beingabove the bottom of the hopper the grain is carried up through it, thusinsuring accurate measurement of the grain. It will be further seen thatas the seed is discharged into the closed housing and drops through itsconduit and connection into the hose or seed-tube it is not exposed atany point to be blown away by the wind, but is safely delivered into thefurrow.

While I have described but one casing and distributing-wheel, it will beunderstood that there are a series of them placed in the hopper, eachwheel being driven from the axle by gears, as described. The casingbeing made in halves, the interengaging male and female joint, asdescribed, gives a very strong and perfect construction.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a seed distributor, incombination with a seed-hopper, an outer casing, a distributing-wheelmounted in said casing having a carrying-flange, and a central web witha laterally-extendiug trunnion from one side of said web, a housingforming part of said casing and projecting over a portion of said flangeto form a measuring-channel, and means for driving said wheel from itsperiphery whereby said wheel is entirely exposed tothe grain at one sideexcept where covered by said housing, substantially as specified.

2. In a seed-distributer, a carrying-Wheel having a carrying-flange, acasing in which said wheel is mounted having an annular flange the innerperiphery of which is adjacent to the carrying-flange on said wheel, ahousing forming a part of said casing and projecting over a portion ofthe carrying-flange to form a measuring channel, said casing beingotherwise open at the side to leave the entire carrying-flange exposedexcept where it passes through said housing and to permit the grain tomove laterally into the carryingwheel, substantially as specified.

3. In a seed-distributer, in combination with a seed-hopper, a casinghaving an annular chamber, a wheel, the periphery of which fits intosaid chamber, having a central web and oppositely-extendingcarrying-flanges, a central support onone side of said wheel only, and ahousing, a portion of which extends overa portion of the respectiveflanges to form measuring-channels, as described, and means for drivingsaid wheel from its periphery whereby the entire carrying portion ofsaid flanges may be exposed to the grain, substantially as specified.

4. The combination with a hopper, of a casing extending into the hopperhaving an annular chamber in which is mounted a distribnter-wheel havinga laterally-extending carrying-flange, a housingv also in said hopperthrough which said flange is adapted to pass to form a measuring-channeland lateral discharge as described, means for driving saidcarrying-wheel from its periphery whereby the entire exposed portion ofthe carryingflange is located within the hopper, substantially asspecified.

5. In a distributer, in combination with a seed-hopper, a casing havingan annular chamber, a distributenwheel having a solid central web andoppositely-extending lateral flanges, the periphery of which is mountedin said annular chamber, a housing extending on each side of said casingand forming a discharge-chamber which communicates with said annularchamber, said housing being provided with an inwardly-extending portionwhich extends over the carrying-flange and forms a measuring-channel,said casing being otherwise open at the sides to leave the entirecarrying-flanges exposed except where they pass through said housing,substantially as specified.

6. The combination with the casing and distributer mounted therein, saidcasing being located in the bottom of a hopper, a distributor-,wheel insaid casing, the periphery of which is protected by said casing, and ahousing forming a discharge-chamber also extended into said hopper, anda closed conduit con- IIO nected with said housing, and means fordriving said distributer from the periphery, substantially as specified.

7. In a seed-distributer and in combination with the seed-hopper, anouter casing, a distribnter-wheel having a central web and alaterally-extending flange, said wheel being supported wholly from oneside so as to leave the opposite side and its carrying-flange exposedand within said hopper, a housing formed in said casing and having oneside extending over a portion of said carrying-flange, and means fordriving said distributer from its periphery, substantially as specified.

8. The combination with a seed-hopper, of a distributer formed of acasing having an aunular chamber and a distributer-wheel located in saidcasing with its periphery extendinginto said chamber, ameasuring-channel formed by a portion of said casing and thecarrying-flange of said distribu ter-wheel, means for driving said wheelfrom its periphory, and shields extending from the top of said casing atan angle toward the bottom of said hopper and thus forming inclinedchutes to direct the seed from said hopper to one side only of saiddistributing-wheels, said shields being adapted to form the bottom ofsaid hopper, substantially as specified.

9. The combination with the seed-hopper, of the distributers extendingentirely into said hopper, reversible shields adapted to rest at one endon top of said casing and at the other on a projecting flange near thebottom thereof, said shields being adapted to form the bottom of saidhopper and direct the grain into one side only of said distributers,substantially as specified.

10. The combination with a seed-hopper, of a distributer-wheel locatedatthe bottom of said hopper having a solid central web and peripheraloppositely extending carryingflanges, said flanges being protected by anannular casing having a discharge-opening and an. inwardly-projectingarm upon one side thereof to support said wheel, whereby said web andthe carrying portions of said flanges are exposed to the grain exceptwhere they pass said arm and discharge, and means for driving saidwheel, substantially as specified.

11. In a seed-distributer, an outer casing having an annular chamber, acarryingwheel having a carrying-flange mounted in said annular chamberwith the edge of said flange adjacent to and protected by the edge ofsaid annular chamber, a housing forming part of said casing andprojecting over a portion of the flange to form a measuring-channel,said casing being otherwise open at the side to leave the entirecarrying-flange exposed except Where it passes through said housing, andmeans for driving said wheel, substantially as specified.

12. The combination with a seed-hopper and a series ofdistribnter-wheels with their casings, as described, and a shaft, ofpinions slidingly mounted on said shaft to drive said wheels, and stopsto hold each of said pinions independent of the others in and out ofengagement, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

13. The combination with a seed-hopper and a series ofdistributer-wheels with their casings, as described, and a shaft, ofpinions slidingly mounted on said shaft to drive said wheels, and stopspivoted to. said casings to swing transversely to said shaft adjacent tosaid pinions to hold each of said pinions independent of the others inand out of engagement, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

li. The combination with a seed-hopper, and a series ofdistributing-wheels therein, provided with peripheral driving-teeth, .ofa driving-shaft, pinions mounted on said shaft to engage the teeth ofsaid distributingwheels, and means for throwing said pinions in and outof gear with the teeth of said dis tributing-wheels independently ofeach other, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of May, A.D. 1901.

CHARLES E. PATRIO.

lVitnesses:

CHAS. I. WELCH, CLIFTON P. GRANT.

